28
No. 2, and spread with rapidity; a great number were attacked, but a large pro-
portion recovered; and the epidemic did not continue more than a few days.
Subsequently it broke out in No. 2; it did not spread rapidly, but it continued a
long time; and altogether there was greater mortality in No. 1 than in No. 2 tola;
they reckoned up 42 deaths in the two tolas; a large proportion were children.
The source of water-supply of No. 1 tola is a surface well in the middle of a
swamp, 300 or 400 yards from the village, below the ridge. In January one
or two ditches with water had to be crossed to reach the well; and in the rains it
would be scarcely accessible, and the people would drink from the jheel itself.
The slope from the ridge to the swampy ground and the long grass in the swamp
were much defiled. Tola No. 2 drew its water-supply entirely from the small
stream below. The bed of the stream is black basalt, and the ascent to the village
is rocky and precipitous. The inhabitants of both tolas resorted to the river for
bathing and washing clothes. Heavy rain was registered daily both at Seonee and
Lucknadown from the 9th to the 13th. This rain would have scoured the stream,
but fouled the jheel. Prior to the 9th July not more than half an inch of rain
had fallen at one time, since the 10th of June.
101. Between Ghunsore and the Wyngunga the country is waste and
rocky, covered with stunted jungle; the hills in this part of its course abut closely
upon the river; on the north of the river the ground rises abruptly to an undula-
ting stony plateau, on which Pindraye, Doondunannee, Raipoora, and other villages
are situated, lying below the plateau; on the north is the rich valley of Soonwarra.
102. The village of Soonwarra is situated in the middle of the valley, on
deep blacksoil; it has 1,200 inhabitants; and a weekly bazaar is held every
Thursday, which is attended from a wide circle of villages. It is well shaded by
large tamarind trees, and it has an abundant supply of water from wells sunk 40
feet through blacksoil and clay. A large number of cattle are kept in the village;
and it was more crowded and more dirty than the generality of villages. About
3/4 mile from the village, under a hill at the western extremity of the valley, is a
tola, which contained at the census 242 inhabitants, chiefly Gowlees and Gonds.
The village is built on rocky ground, among stunted jungle. The sole source of
water-supply was a spring about 200 yards from the hamlet, the water trikling
out under a slab of trap rock into a small pool, the water in which was not more
than a few inches in depth, and it would be impossible to fill an ordinary vessel
without disturbing the bottom; the ground all around was muddy and fouled by
cattle. Cholera broke out here on the 19th May, and the following is the
account given of the out-break:-On the 15th May a Gowlee went from the tola
to Lucknadown, where cholera had then appeared; he stayed there two days and
returned to the tola on the 17th; he was not ill when he returned, nor was he
attacked afterwards. On the 19th a woman was attacked about mid-day, and
died at night; the next day, the 20th, the Patel was attacked, and he died the
day following (the 21st); on that day there were 11 cases, and by the 27th, 52
cases had occurred, of whom 51 died; the survivors then dispersed into the jungles,
and when they afterwards reassembled they found that altogether 63 of their
number had been carried off. The bodies of those that died first were thrown
into the Wyngunga, which is about a mile distant; afterwards they were thrown
away in the jungle near, and at last they appear to have been left where they
died. At the large village of Soonwarra not a single person was attacked at this
time; one death from cholera was reported sometime afterwards; and one or two
cases that recovered are said to have followed.
103. Ama nullah,-4 miles from Soonwarra, at the eastern extremity of the
valley, on blacksoil, well shaded by trees. The source of water supply is a small
stream which had been dammed to increase the supply; the banks are habitually
defiled; and the cattle are watered at the same place, from which the villagers draw